Istanbul Encyclopedia (published
in 11 volumes between 1944-1973, the unfinished work of the late Reşad
Ekrem Koçu) - p.551
The Baker Shops
These shops were established by the English Baker family who arrived in Constantinople after the Crimean war (1853), and the English immigrant families of Edwards and Binns were also involved with these shops. These latter 2 families opened businesses in different sectors and neigbourhoods of Istanbul, however with time these businesses were either transferred to the Bakers or they merged through partnership with them. The founder of the Baker shops, George Baker was at that time already operating a substantial business in London.
Soon after George Baker arrived in Istanbul, he formed a partnership with the Hayden family and together they opened two shops, one on the Grand Rue de Pera, at where Anadolu Han now stands, the other in nearby Galata, opposite Serdar Ekrem Street, on the corner looking out to the Galata tower. This partnership established in the 1860s remained firm till the end of the 1870s.
With the end of this decade, Hayden and Baker went their own way, and Hayden retained these shops and Baker opened new retail outlets. One of these shops was again by the Galata tower, at Şahdeğirmeni Street, and the other was next to the former Kanzuch pharmacy [Austrian run, in Pera?].
Soon after this first shop on the Grand Rue de Pera, George Baker opened his second shop where Sümerbank [central Pera, near the British Consulate] now stands. In these shops the Bakers sold a wide range of goods in including textiles, bedding, furniture and accessories. In addition to this they had by this time obtained the local representation of many foreign firms.
A close friend of the Bakers, Cuthbert Evelyn Binns, became the manager of the Baker shops after WWI. The other English Levantine family of Edwards family firm, Edwards and Sons, merged with the G. & A. Baker company. At this time C.E. Binns was still the general manager, and W.G.M. Edwards continued his career as a member of the board of directors. Records show that between 1924-1925 W.G.M. Edwards continued his association with the local British Chamber of Commerce and in 1930 was elected as its president.
Following the parting of ways with Hayden, George Baker continued to use his own name in all firms and outlets he subsequently established. Both his sons’ first names began with the letter ‘A’, so the later name of the firm had this letter added. Despite the Baker shops being in Pera [Beyoğlu], the head office was always in old Istanbul [across the Golden Horn]. In the 1880s Baker ran his import, export and commission enterprise at Matteo han in Tarakçılar Street, later moving this centre to Prevuyans han in Tahtakale, and remained there till the dissolution of the firm. In Fener Street in Balat, they had a large warehouse, while their tobacco warehouse and salesroom was in Beşiktaş. In addition the Baker had a partnership with Seager, based at Hovagimyan Han in Galata; Baker & Seager shipping.
In the early years of the 1950s Bakers began to wind up their businesses, first they closed down their large household goods shops in İstiklal Street, Pera. Their furniture shop, next to the French Hachette bookshop in Pera, they sold to one of the richest Greek families of Istanbul, the Pallavidis. This family had already bought their other 2 shops in Galata, the one just before Şahdeğirmeni Street, and the other on the corner of this street. With these shops the Pallavidis ran a clothes and shoes shop chain. The head of the family, Dimitri Pallavidis, came to an agreement with another Greek shop owner, Leonidas Yotto, and became a partner in his patisserie, renaming the outlet Rekor to Kervan.
Despite renaming the Baker shop Pallavidis, the local population of Beyoğlu carried on referring to this shop as Baker. However with the anti-minority mob riots of 6-7 Sept. 1955 both Pallavidis shops were looted, and were later refurbished, but with the later death of Dimitri Pallavidis, all shops closed down. The son of Dimitri Pallavidis, Niko established a large import-export firm by the name of ‘Şark Export’, a firm that still trades today.
Behzat Üskiden
Volume 5 - Istanbul 1961
Blacque Bey (Alexander)
He is the founder and chief reporter of “Le Moniteur Ottoman”, a French language version of Takvimi Vakaayi, the first official newspaper of the Ottoman state. His birth date and place has not been determined,
...
Blacque Bey (Eduard)
A Turkish diplomat and municipal councillor, born in Istanbul in 1824 to a well to do, and established French family in Istanbul.
The Baker Shops
These shops were established by the English Baker family who arrived in Constantinople after the Crimean war (1853), and the English immigrant families of Edwards and Binns were also involved with these shops. These latter 2 families opened businesses in different sectors and neigbourhoods of Istanbul, however with time these businesses were either transferred to the Bakers or they merged through partnership with them. The founder of the Baker shops, George Baker was at that time already operating a substantial business in London.
Soon after George Baker arrived in Istanbul, he formed a partnership with the Hayden family and together they opened two shops, one on the Grand Rue de Pera, at where Anadolu Han now stands, the other in nearby Galata, opposite Serdar Ekrem Street, on the corner looking out to the Galata tower. This partnership established in the 1860s remained firm till the end of the 1870s.
With the end of this decade, Hayden and Baker went their own way, and Hayden retained these shops and Baker opened new retail outlets. One of these shops was again by the Galata tower, at Şahdeğirmeni Street, and the other was next to the former Kanzuch pharmacy [Austrian run, in Pera?].
Soon after this first shop on the Grand Rue de Pera, George Baker opened his second shop where Sümerbank [central Pera, near the British Consulate] now stands. In these shops the Bakers sold a wide range of goods in including textiles, bedding, furniture and accessories. In addition to this they had by this time obtained the local representation of many foreign firms.
A close friend of the Bakers, Cuthbert Evelyn Binns, became the manager of the Baker shops after WWI. The other English Levantine family of Edwards family firm, Edwards and Sons, merged with the G. & A. Baker company. At this time C.E. Binns was still the general manager, and W.G.M. Edwards continued his career as a member of the board of directors. Records show that between 1924-1925 W.G.M. Edwards continued his association with the local British Chamber of Commerce and in 1930 was elected as its president.
Following the parting of ways with Hayden, George Baker continued to use his own name in all firms and outlets he subsequently established. Both his sons’ first names began with the letter ‘A’, so the later name of the firm had this letter added. Despite the Baker shops being in Pera [Beyoğlu], the head office was always in old Istanbul [across the Golden Horn]. In the 1880s Baker ran his import, export and commission enterprise at Matteo han in Tarakçılar Street, later moving this centre to Prevuyans han in Tahtakale, and remained there till the dissolution of the firm. In Fener Street in Balat, they had a large warehouse, while their tobacco warehouse and salesroom was in Beşiktaş. In addition the Baker had a partnership with Seager, based at Hovagimyan Han in Galata; Baker & Seager shipping.
In the early years of the 1950s Bakers began to wind up their businesses, first they closed down their large household goods shops in İstiklal Street, Pera. Their furniture shop, next to the French Hachette bookshop in Pera, they sold to one of the richest Greek families of Istanbul, the Pallavidis. This family had already bought their other 2 shops in Galata, the one just before Şahdeğirmeni Street, and the other on the corner of this street. With these shops the Pallavidis ran a clothes and shoes shop chain. The head of the family, Dimitri Pallavidis, came to an agreement with another Greek shop owner, Leonidas Yotto, and became a partner in his patisserie, renaming the outlet Rekor to Kervan.
Despite renaming the Baker shop Pallavidis, the local population of Beyoğlu carried on referring to this shop as Baker. However with the anti-minority mob riots of 6-7 Sept. 1955 both Pallavidis shops were looted, and were later refurbished, but with the later death of Dimitri Pallavidis, all shops closed down. The son of Dimitri Pallavidis, Niko established a large import-export firm by the name of ‘Şark Export’, a firm that still trades today.
Behzat Üskiden
Volume 5 - Istanbul 1961
Blacque Bey (Alexander)
He is the founder and chief reporter of “Le Moniteur Ottoman”, a French language version of Takvimi Vakaayi, the first official newspaper of the Ottoman state. His birth date and place has not been determined,
...
Blacque Bey (Eduard)
A Turkish diplomat and municipal councillor, born in Istanbul in 1824 to a well to do, and established French family in Istanbul.
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